Rainer on Leadership

Explore the unseen shifts in American church communities, from the mobility of younger families to the rising awareness of mental health issues. Discover how advancements in accessible theological education empower pastors and reshape ministry practices. Delve into the impact of decentralized media on church communication and the humorous generational gaps in tech usage. Finally, learn about innovative programs like customizable 5K runs that strengthen church-community ties and engage members in unique ways.

Local church life is facing intriguing 'quiet disruptors' that often go unnoticed. The hosts dive into the shifting expectations of spiritual authority and how personal faith is becoming more intertwined with community life. They highlight how digital natives are redefining connection and the rise of micro-communities. Additionally, they discuss the evolving donation dynamics in the digital age, showcasing how churches adapt in response to change. Plus, pickleball is introduced as a fresh way to foster community engagement.

Most every church desires to grow with young families. But what do they look for in a church? Josh and Sam discuss a few key ways to attract and retain families with children. An indicator of health: 25% of Sunday morning attendance should be 18 and under. An indicator of investment: The children’s and student ministry budgets should be more than the worship ministry budget. Clear policies and procedures that prioritize child safety. Family-friendly service start times (9:30 or 10:00 a.m.) and service length (one hour). Age-segmented discipleship programs for children, students, and adults. Full programming for the entire family. Worship styles, preaching philosophy, and specific programs can be important to some but are less important overall. Resources: The Revitalization at Shadowbrook Church Doctor of Educational Ministry, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Churchteams Church Answers Certifications FREE Research Report! New Surprising Insights Church Answers Central The Hope Initiative Episode Sponsors: Shadowbrook Church members in Suwanee, Georgia, have rediscovered their first love–serving Christ and loving others.  But during Jerrod Rumley’s first two years as pastor, he was shepherding a divided congregation.  A small number of members seemed better suited for sharing gossip than the gospel. Older and younger members had relegated the Great Commission to the church staff.  Gen-Xers were comfortable in a congregation that placed few demands upon them.  Others were busy meeting community needs–yet seldom shared the gospel. Rumley needed guidance to unify his splintered congregation.  He knew exactly where to turn. Go to SBTS.edu/Unified to read about the steps Shadowbrook’s pastor took to erase barriers and revive the church’s passion for evangelism and discipleship.  Those same steps are available to you, and it begins at SBTS.edu/Unified.   You see the need for systems to follow up on guests, volunteers, pastoral care; but right now that is really sporadic and siloed. Each person doing their own thing and people falling through the cracks. Churchteams will help you build and implement the system you need. Tired of not being able to get the help you need for your software? Churchteams support staff have all served on Church staff. They know the software and they know how churches work. Call, text, set up free support appointments. Integrated. How many different software systems are you using that require sharing people’s data? If 2 or more, you know the challenge and limitations of data in different systems that don’t play well together. Churchteams has all your people data in one place, including your communication data (email, texts, workflows). Ease of use. Do you feel like you should be getting more from your church software, but just can’t get people to use it? Churchteams makes it easy for guests, members, volunteers, and leaders to do everything they need to do including giving without having to create an account. Check it out to learn how. Reports. Are you getting the feedback on your ministry that you need from your database when you need it? Churchteams reports are extremely customizable. Let each staff save the ones they use on their dashboard. Or, schedule it to show up in their inbox. Learn more at Churchteams. The post What Young Families Really Want in a Church appeared first on Church Answers.

Adding church staff isn't always beneficial. Learn when it can take ministry away from the laity or when a hire is driven by outdated practices. Financial considerations and personal connections can complicate decision-making. Beware of hiring due to personal friendships or copying other churches. Evaluating current staff effectiveness is crucial, especially in large congregations where complexity can lead to inefficiency. This insightful discussion offers guidance on mission-focused staffing decisions.

A pastor’s salary is determined by several factors, including church size and budget, geographic location, cost of living, education, experience, and responsibilities. While there is no universal answer, Josh and Sam discuss general guidelines and what pastors should expect from their churches. Remember, everything is negotiable on the front end. Don’t go to a church and negotiate after you accept the position. Some denominations are known to pay better than others. Most pastors are underpaid, but few get paid far too much. The median household income of a community is typically not where pastors should be given their experience, education, and responsibilities. A small school superintendent is a better comparison point for a full-time pastor at a mid-size to large church. Rent x 3 is a good rule of thumb. For churches with budgets between $600,000 and $2,000,000, 10% of the income received is typical for a compensation package of a lead pastor. Remember, you must consider salary, housing, benefits, and social security exemption. Should churches pay for half of FICA if a pastor has opted into social security? Many churches do not realize that Section 3121(b)(8)(A) prevents them from withholding Social Security and Medicare taxes (FICA) from a minister’s wages. Instead, ministers are responsible for paying Self-Employment Contributions Act (SECA) tax on their salary and housing allowance—unless they have obtained an approved exemption. Resources: The Revitalization at Shadowbrook Church Doctor of Educational Ministry, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Churchteams Church Answers Certifications FREE Research Report! New Surprising Insights Church Answers Central The Hope Initiative Episode Sponsors: Shadowbrook Church members in Suwanee, Georgia, have rediscovered their first love–serving Christ and loving others.  But during Jerrod Rumley’s first two years as pastor, he was shepherding a divided congregation.  A small number of members seemed better suited for sharing gossip than the gospel. Older and younger members had relegated the Great Commission to the church staff.  Gen-Xers were comfortable in a congregation that placed few demands upon them.  Others were busy meeting community needs–yet seldom shared the gospel. Rumley needed guidance to unify his splintered congregation.  He knew exactly where to turn. Go to SBTS.edu/Unified to read about the steps Shadowbrook’s pastor took to erase barriers and revive the church’s passion for evangelism and discipleship.  Those same steps are available to you, and it begins at SBTS.edu/Unified.   You see the need for systems to follow up on guests, volunteers, pastoral care; but right now that is really sporadic and siloed. Each person doing their own thing and people falling through the cracks. Churchteams will help you build and implement the system you need. Tired of not being able to get the help you need for your software? Churchteams support staff have all served on Church staff. They know the software and they know how churches work. Call, text, set up free support appointments. Integrated. How many different software systems are you using that require sharing people’s data? If 2 or more, you know the challenge and limitations of data in different systems that don’t play well together. Churchteams has all your people data in one place, including your communication data (email, texts, workflows). Ease of use. Do you feel like you should be getting more from your church software, but just can’t get people to use it? Churchteams makes it easy for guests, members, volunteers, and leaders to do everything they need to do including giving without having to create an account. Check it out to learn how. Reports. Are you getting the feedback on your ministry that you need from your database when you need it? Churchteams reports are extremely customizable. Let each staff save the ones they use on their dashboard. Or, schedule it to show up in their inbox. Learn more at Churchteams. The post How Much Money Should a Pastor Make? appeared first on Church Answers.

Both prophets and conspiracy theorists cater to the human desire to make sense of chaos. This connection sparks compelling questions: Do religious belief and conspiracy thinking go hand in hand, as both involve leaps of imagination? Or does a strong religious framework offer enough structure, reducing the need for conspiracy theories? Ryan Burge joins the show to discuss what the hard data reveals. Non-religious people are slightly less inclined toward conspiracy theories. Those who attend church weekly are also less inclined toward conspiracy theories. The quasi-religious (attending church occasionally) are more prone to conspiracy theories. Overall, being politically conservative had no impact at all on belief in conspiracy theories. However, for those who don’t have a strong religious belief, being more conservative drives up conspiratorial thinking. Holding to Christian Nationalist views drives up the belief in conspiracy theories. Political ideology is more influential on holding to conspiracy theories than religious beliefs. Resources: NLT Large Print Pew Bible Church Connect Tyndale House Publishers Upward Sports Upward Sports: Pickleball Ryan Burge “Trust the Plan – Does Religion Drive Conspiratorial Thinking?” by Ryan Burge “Leviathan” by Thomas Hobbes (affiliate link) “Original Sin: President Biden’s Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again” by Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson (affiliate link) Church Answers Platinum Membership FREE Research Report! New Surprising Insights The Hope Initiative Episode Sponsors: Pastors, if you are looking for the perfect pew Bible to serve your congregation, the NLT Large Print Pew Bible is a fantastic choice! With its easy-to-read 10.25 point font, even seniors and young readers will follow along comfortably. It’s durable, affordable, and beautifully crafted—ideal for use in worship. And because it is the New Living Translation, your congregation will hear an accurate, understandable, and audibly enjoyable reading of Scripture that speaks to the heart, enriches understanding, and transforms lives—perfect for sermons, public reading, and personal reflection. Upgrade your pew Bibles today. Learn more and find bulk discounts for churches at Church Connect.     The Power of Partnership Upward Sports is the world’s largest Christian youth sports organization, empowering local churches to use sports as a dynamic connection tool to engage their communities. A Variety of Sports for Every Church From basketball, cheerleading, soccer, flag football, volleyball, and baseball to running for adults — and now pickleball — Upward Sports offers flexible league options to fit your church’s unique needs. Exciting News: Pickleball Has Arrived! Launched in April, pickleball is perfect for middle and high schoolers — easy to learn, quick to set up, and highly engaging. Whether you prefer a traditional league or a flexible practice-and-play format, Upward Sports is here to guide you. Plus, to help you get started, Upward is offering two free Pickleball Net Sets when you create your league. But act fast — only 200 sets are available! Schedule your call today and build a purposeful pickleball ministry in your community. Learn more at www.Upward.org/Pickleball where you can access an equipment list, court dimensions, and more. Be the Neighborhood Church Want to create a welcoming space for families? Upward Sports provides a first-class, well-organized, and fun league experience. As a self-sustaining ministry, any church — big or small — can get started. Customize your outreach ministry today. Get Ahead for Fall Sports Looking ahead to the fall season? Create an outreach strategy that includes a warm invite for the whole family – Use sports as that invite. Whether it’s soccer, flag football, cheerleading, volleyball, baseball or pickleball, Upward Sports is ready to support your church in reaching families right in the heart of your community. All you need is access to a gym or field and one passionate leader and Upward will support you with the rest. Learn more at www.Upward.org/ChurchAnswers. The post The Burge Report: Are Religious People More Prone to Conspiracy Theories? appeared first on Church Answers.

Eric Geiger, lead pastor at Mariners Church and author of 'Simple Church,' dives into the evolving landscape of megachurches. He discusses the challenges they face, including changing demographics and shifting spiritual expectations among congregants. Geiger highlights the risks of charismatic leadership, urging a more collaborative approach to ministry. He also shares insights on Mariners Church's innovative strategies to engage with their community and adapt to future trends, emphasizing the importance of meaningful transformation in congregational life.

Michael Kelley, Executive Director for the Rooted Network and an expert in church small group curriculum, shares insights on the evolving landscape of small group materials. He discusses significant shifts due to cultural dynamics and the influence of technology on curriculum choices. Kelley also highlights the importance of tailoring resources to engage different generations effectively. With practical advice for church leaders, he emphasizes fostering deeper spiritual connections through thoughtful curriculum selection.

Bible translations spark passionate debates among pastors and congregations. The hosts dissect formal, dynamic, and optimal equivalence—emphasizing that word-for-word isn't always best. Preferences shine through, with one advocating for the New Living Translation for its readability, while another champions the Christian Standard Bible. The conversation also highlights the importance of using consistent translations within church settings and critiques the marketing driven by publishers. Listeners are invited to weigh in on their own translation experiences!

Explore the four types of church leaders who hinder revitalization: fearful leaders who shy away from risk, leaders in denial who miss decline, comfortable leaders resisting change, and coasting leaders losing their drive. These traits can stifle growth and block vision. Dive into how to recognize these patterns for fostering courageous, honest leadership. Plus, hear about innovative outreach tools, like pew Bibles, and even pickleball as a fun way to engage communities!